Cries of ‘shame on you’ were shouted from the public gallery after the first plans for a new housing development in Chertsey were approved.

The outline application for 130 homes in Hanworth Lane - dealing with means of access only- was discussed at Runnymede Borough Council ’s planning committee on Wednesday night (November 18).

Dozens of residents turned up to the council chamber to air their concerns over the planned access route of Pretoria Road, which some classed as already busy, stating it would become dangerous if approved.

This was the second time the application had come before the committee in as many months, after the item was deferred in October. Applicant Explore Living was given time to ‘seek improvements’ to access arrangements as well as contact Thames Water about waste water and sewerage arrangements for the development.

The plans had attracted 96 letters of objection, which spoke of use of the road being ‘unacceptable and dangerous’, while others said it would harm the wellbeing of residents in the road.

Bill Berwick, of Pretoria Road, spoke on behalf of residents on Wednesday telling councillors the impact if more traffic using the road as an access would have on their physical and mental wellbeing.

He added the ‘massive increase in traffic’ would have a devastating effect on safety, particularly for children and elderly people. Mr Berwick said he believed the new development would bring about almost 600 new vehicle movements, adding it was ‘pure insanity in a residential area’.

“We fully appreciate the need for the creation of new houses but access via Pretoria Road will totally destroy one community by trying to make another,” he added.

Planning agent Andrew Woolford said the reality of the current land ownership constraints meant that having access via Hanworth Lane, as some opponents had wanted, was ‘not a viable option’.

According to the applicant alternative access had been explored, adding they had spoken with Salesian School, which owns the playing field, and Ashill Land Ltd, a developer who had ‘recently secured some land’ on the neighbouring site, adding that no agreement was in place between the two about the land.

Mr Woolford added that even if the other section of land was developed with the use of Hanworth Lane as an access, Pretoria Road will still need to be used due to the scale of the development.

He told the meeting there had also been no objection from county highways, something that Runnymede head of planning Ian Maguire emphasised to members during the discussions.

He added: This whole [site] is a mishmash. We have the opportunity to do it right. I think it’s our job to. We can stand back and say there’s no good planning reason or we could use common sense. We have to take the right decision for our residents.”

Cllr Mike Kusneraitis added: “A better way has to be found. We have to think of the children and people who live there. To have it all coming through one road is not right.”

Ward councillor Mark Nuti, who was allowed to speak at the meeting, said: “We are here to represent people of Runnymede. It’s not always about the rules and regulations. We have responsibility for people in this borough to look after their wellbeing.”

Cllr Elaine Gill said although she had concerns about the access, they were not in a position to wait for a separate plan involving Hanworth Lane to come forward.

But after the Cllr Hugh Meares put forward a motion to go with the recommendation and grant permission, councillors voted 10-4 in favour.